MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — The deployment of units tasked to secure the coming may 9 elections has reached 97.1 percent, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced Wednesday, May 4.
The Philippine National Police disclosed the deployment of police officers, standby forces and quick reaction teams stationed in a 24-hour basis at the command posts in their respective headquarters.
When asked regarding the exact number of troops and units involved in securing the coming polls, AFP Spokesperson, BGen. Restituto Padilla stressed the entire 125,000-strong AFP is committed to preserving the peace, transparency, and sanctity of the polls with its PNP counterparts.
He added that bulks of the military units are deployed in traditional election hot spots which include Maguindanao, Lanao Del Sur, Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Padilla said military units in these provinces are deployed in checkpoint operations to prevent the proliferation of loose firearms and movement of private armed groups.
